He still had on last night's trousers. Not a good sign. However, she had not killed him in his sleep-and that was a good sign. She was probably saving his execution for later, when he could feel it. He stood up straight in front of the mirror. He stuck out his hairy chest. He flexed, popping out tattooed biceps. I am a marine, he said to himself. She is five foot three. He sagged visibly. Who am I kidding? was his next thought. He
The character in the story is reflecting on his situation, starting with the unfavorable sign of still wearing last night's trousers. Despite this grim reminder of his circumstances, he finds a silver lining in the fact that he wasn't killed in his sleep, suggesting that a more calculated punishment might await him. This mix of humor and tension shows his awareness of the precariousness of his situation and the dynamics in his relationship with the woman in question.
